Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1921, Page 2

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

A CRISIS REACHED. .. % ON WELLINGTON WATERFRONT. [by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]! . WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. A climax was reached on the waterfront to-day, when further reprisalswere made. The members of the Waterside Workers’ Union korked overtime last evenings The men employed on the vessels; Durham, Karori and Ngakuta, were ad- _ dressed this morning by Mr G. Bennett, secretary of the Waterside Labour Employment Association. He pointed out that the local union- , denied knowledge of being concerned inthe action. The. employers,- on the other hand, felt absolutely convinced that the men were acting on a concerted plan.- » He explained that unless the men resumed overtime at 5 o’clock that evening no further engagements would bemade till assurances were received that irritation tactics would be discontinued. After 10 minutes’ deliberation, themen announced it as their decision not to work after 5 o’clock.

DUNEDIN WATER SIDED S. DUNEDIN, Feb. 17. Regarding. the trouble on the waterfront the Dunedin watersiders maintain the greatest secrecyThey say that the position is unchanged, and that they have received no information from Wellington as to' any future action that may he decided on.. In the meantime the men on the water front here are working steadily. They are certainly not pursuing any “goslow" policy. A meeting of the local executive of the New Zealand Transport .Workers Federation was held on Wednesday night, when Mr J. Roberts (General Secretary of the Federation) was present. The business transacted did not give the slightest indication of what the watersiders intend to do, as can be gained by the fact that a question on the point subsequently put by a reported to some of those present at the meeting brought an authoritative reply that the reporter knew just as much about the future action of the Watersiders as they did. All the power, it would seem, rests in the hands of the. chief executive in Wellington. Mr Roberts left by the second express on his return to Wellington.

GOOD ROADS WANTED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 17 A meeting of local motor traders'discussed mean's of solving the'quesfcion of good roads. Several speakers spoke strongly in their favour. It was considered, however, that they should he under Government, and notlocal supervision, and with this provision, the meeting passed a-recommen-dation -to the national executive in their favour. Sir Stuart Wilson, .who at one time was a strong opponent to toll gates,'has altered his mind since >seeing the Taranaki roads, which, he considers, have only been made possible by toll bars. Everyone there, -he Says, is in favour of them. LABOUR MINISTER, WELLINGTON, Feb. 7. On account of the trouble which has arisen on the waterfront, the Minister of Labour has .decided temporarily to abandon his southern trip, at least so far as Christchurch is concerned. - ALLIANCE OF LABOUR. AUCKLAND, Feb 17. No overtime was worked on the Auckland wharves to-night, as the men attended a meeting to hear Mr Glover of the Watersiders’ Federation, outline the constitution of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour. INFLUENCING JURORS. PALMERSTON N., Feb. 17. At the Supreme Court', Thomas Martin was found guilty of attempting to influence jurymen at last Supreme Court sittings, and was sentenced to twelve months’ bard labour.